NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 7 recalls, 90 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle.
24–32 mpg combined
7.4–9.8 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 6 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle, the overwhelming majority of owner complaints center on the airbag system, which accounts for roughly a third of all reports filed. Most of these owners describe receiving notification about an airbag-related safety issue and then being unable to get the repair completed, dealers repeatedly told owners the replacement parts were on backorder for extended periods, in some cases months. A smaller share of complaints involves the electrical system, with eleven reports pointing to various electrical faults. The engine rounds out the top three named systems at five complaints, though no single symptom pattern stands out there. One isolated report describes the ignition key getting stuck and the vehicle not shutting off, which the dealer attributed to the steering lock mechanism.
90
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle has 7 recalls, the most serious being a rear suspension trailing arm that can fracture suddenly and a driver's airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin.
The airbag inflator issue is the well-known Takata defect, where prolonged exposure to heat and humidity degrades the propellant and can cause the inflator to rupture. On the suspension side, the rear trailing arm can crack and break without warning, causing sudden loss of vehicle control. A separate airbag concern affects vehicles built between February and August 2012 with leather sport seats: if the front passenger seat gets wet, the passenger seat sensor may fail to detect a child restraint and leave the airbag active when it should be suppressed. The electrical system carries a rollaway risk on automatic transmission models with a manual handbrake and keyless entry, where the key can be removed with the shifter out of Park, allowing the vehicle to roll. Two sunroof recalls overlap in consequence: the panoramic sunroof glass and frame can be out of tolerance and fracture under a sudden jolt, particularly in cold weather, while a separate recall covers standard glass sunroofs that can shatter when driving over rough pavement or a pothole, with glass falling onto occupants. A final recall covers unspecified regulatory compliance concerns.
At a glance
What can fail
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During internal evaluation, modifications were made to these vehicles that may prevent them from meeting all applicable safety and emissions regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will repurchase the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified and can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Silicate buildup on the shift lever switch contacts can allow the key to be removed from the ignition even when the transmission is not in Park.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear trailing arms may have reduced durability if previously bent from a rear or side-rear impact crash, risking sudden fracture.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms to prevent loss of control if the arm fractures.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The glass sunroof may break when the vehicle travels over rough road surfaces or hits a pothole.
What the fix does
The sunroof will be replaced with a new one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The panoramic sunroof glass and frame may have been made out of tolerance, causing the glass to fracture if the vehicle experiences a sudden jolt, especially in cold weather. Breakage while driving could distract the driver or injure occupants with broken glass.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the panoramic sunroof glass assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may fail to detect if a child restraint is installed in that seat.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will replace the occupant control module in the right front passenger seat at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
